Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-09-16

his example.
On the 81 of February 1866 during the
so-called Peace Conference at Hampton
Roads between AR. Lincoln and Mr. Sew
ard on the one side and the Messrs. stephen
Campbell and Hunter on the other, Mr.
Hunter remarked that the recognition of
the confederate government by President
Lincoln was indispensable as the first step
toward peace and he made an ingenious
arguement in support of his proposition,
citing as n precedent for the guidance of
constitutional rulers in dealing with lnsur-
gents, the case of Charles | and his rebel
parliament. This reference to King Charles,
an odious despot, as model Tor imitation
| by president of the United States was a
| little unfortunate, but Mr. Lincoln was
more amused than offended 10y it,
Turning to Mr. Hunter he said" On the
question of history | must refer you to Mr..
Seward. who is posted in such matters |
don't pretend to he; but have a tolerable
distinct recollection. in the case you refer
to- that Charles lost his head, and have
no head to spare
Mr. Hunter during the same conference,
! in speaking of emancipation, remarked
that the slaves had always been accustomed
to work on compulsion. under an overSeer;
dlil ne dIIltHVH'i'i th'f "''u''' II '"'t''OiiJ
set free. precipltate themselves ana the
whole social fabric OF the South INTO IRE
tlleNabIe rum In that case neither the
whites nor the pIachS would Nofk' lncy
would all starve together To this Mr..
Lincoln replied--"Mr Hunter, you ought
to know great deal more about this matter
than do for you have always lived under
the slave system But the way you state
tlip pa sp ra1Oip1s mo of Illinois farmer
who was not over,iond of work, but was an
adept in Sinking. TO this end he conceived
II brilliant scheme of hog culture. Having
good farm he bought large nerd OF
swine. lie planted an immense HELD IN po-
tatoes' with the view OF turning the whole
nerd into 1t late i'll the fall supposhg they
would be able to provide Tor themselves
during the winter. One day his scheme was
discussed between himself ana a nelghbor,
who asked him how the thing would work
When the ground was frozen two feet deep,
lie had not thought OF the contingency, and
seemed perpleNed over it. AT length he an
N"'red-'well, 1t Will be a lcetle hard on
,H"T shouts, reckon; but them shoats
viii have to root hog or die. ~
And so. concluded MI Lincoln, lin
tine oar" contingency, you named whites and
blacks aIlE" Will have to look out Tor them
selves ana have an abiding faith that they
viii 20 about it in fashion trat will unde-
crive You in very agreeable way Dur
u1 TN me conference. in response to Ger
i1' rt-I WES By the confederate commits
-oH'I7 requiring explicit contradiction, Mr.,
Lincoln animadNerted with some severity
upon the conduct OF the rebel leaders, and
closed with the statement that they had
panty forfeited all right to immunity
from punishment Tor the highest crime
known to the law. Being positive and un-
epuivocal in stating his views concerning
individual treason his words seemed to fall
upon the commissioners with ominous i'm
port There was pause, during which
Mr.. Hunter regarded the speaker with
steady, searching look. At length, carefully
measuring his own words, Mr.. Hunter said
Then, Mr., President, if we understand
YOU correctly,Nou think that we of the con
tederacy have committed treason; that we
are traitors to your government; that we
have forfeited our rights, and are proper
subjects for the hangman. Is not that
about what your words imply:
- \ cS. SAID AlI, I,,iltDtn. ''NDtI have stated